Slicer for citrus fruit and the like



May 24, 1949. A. o. vGOIJDS'IEIN 1 2,470,813

SLIICEB FOR CITRUS FRUIT* AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 7. 1947 Patented May 24, 1949 TENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a slicer for citrus fruit,

and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device to facilitate the manual slicing of citrus fruit, and the like, such device being simplified in design and quite inexpensive to produce.

A further object is to provide a citrus fruit slicer which requires the use of only one of the hands of the user, and which is adapted to hold .a desired quantity of fruit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a citrus fruit slicer which is very simple to operate, and readily cleaned after use.

Other objects and :advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is an end elevation of the fruit slicer embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a central vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, Where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral `I5 designates a body or casing, including a bottom elongated horizontal base portion or box The box l is rectangular in transverse cross section, :and includes a bottom 3, sides 9, and front end IU. The front end I has a rectangular opening I I to permit the passage of a sliding pan or juice catch I2. The sliding pan is also rectangular in transverse cross section and elongated, and is slidably disposed within the box 1. The pan I2 has a handle or knob I3, rigidly secured to the iront end I4 thereof. The pan further includes a bottom I5, vertical sides IE, and ya circularly curved rear end I'I. The box 'I has a top I8, which curves upwardly toward the rear end of the casing 6, Figure 2. The .top I8 is provided at its rear end with a vertical ange I9, rigidly secured .to the cylindrically curved wall of a vertical cylindrical hopper 20. The rear side of the hopper 2li extends below the top I8 and forms a rear circularly curved end 2l for the box 1. The hopper 2) extends vertically above the box 'I for a substantial distance and is open at its top end. The forward side of the hopper has a large opening 22, 'the top edge 23 of which is curved as shown in Figure 1.

The sides 9 of box 'I have parts Iextending vertically upwardly to form Vertical panels or sides 2t. These sides 24 extend near the top of the hopper 20 and are tangent to the same, Figure 3. The sides 24 are preferably rigidly connected to the hopper 20. The sides 2d 4have aligned vertical slots 25 formed therein, and these slots extend from the top I8 to near the tops of the sides 2d. The slots 25 have top lateral extensions or slots 2B, at right angles to the slots 25.

Disposed between the sides 2li extending laterally for substantially the full distance between the sides is a vertical slicing bla-de 2l. The blade 2'. is beveled and sharpened at its bottom edge and is pointed, as in Figure 1. The blade may be provided with an -opening 2B. The blade 21 is rigidly attached to a cross bar 29, the opposite ends of which slidably engage in the slots 25. The cross bar 29 has a knob or handle 39 at its center to facilitate raising and lowering the blade 21.

Adjacent to the slots 25, the top I3 has la spherical depression or seat 3l, having a transverse elongated slot 32 therein.

In use, citrus fruit, such as oranges, are placed in the Ihoppe-r 20. This hopper can be made any desired height and diameter to accommodate the desired quantity and size of fruit. The oranges in the hopper 2l) -will feed downwardly by gravity, and each orange can pass through the open- Iing 22. The oranges roll upon the upwardly curved rear portion of the top I8, :and the lowermost o-range is seated within the depression 3l. The `orange within the depression cannot roll,

f and prevents the downward movement of the other oranges above it, until it has been sliced into halves.

With an orange, or the like, seated in the depression 3I, as shown in Figure 2, the blade 2l is moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 and will slice the orange in to halves. The blade 2l passes through the orange and into the slot 52. The blade 21 is then returned to its upper inoperative position. The juice drippings caused by slicing pass through the slot 32 and into the pan I2, which is readily removed from the box 'l for cleaning. When the sliced orange is removed, the next orange above will enter the depression 3I. The slicer may be operated with one hand, and is very easy to clean. The casing B may be made of any suitable material, such as plastics. y

It is to be understood that the form oi my invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and

that various changes in the Shape, sizes and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A combined unitary citrus fruit slicer and storage receptacle, comprising a relatively narrow elongated box forming a base and including a top having a depression and a slot extending 'transversely through thedepression, a removable tray slidably mounted within the box beneath the top thereof and constructed and arranged to catch juice drippings from the slot, an upstanding storage hopper mounted upon the box at the rear end thereof and being of substantially the same width as the box and having a fruit discharge opening at its forward side and adjacent 'to ythetop ofthe box, upstanding spaced wide ilat sides secured'to the top of the box adjacent to its side edges and connected to the hopper, .the upstanding sides and hopper forming with 'the top of the box a .fruit slicing chamber havingits forward side open, the

,upstanding sides having cppositely disposed vertical slots adjacentto the transverse slot, and a vertically moveable slicing blade disposed between 'the upstanding sides and having parts to engage in the vertical slots to be guided thereby, the blade entering the transverseslot when in the lower v position for serving the fruit.

2. A combined unitary citrus fruit slicer and storage receptacle, comprisingv a relatively narrow elongated box vforming av base and including a .generally horizontal top including a rear inclined portion, the top having adepression and a transvverse slot extending across the depression, a rc- .flat sides secured to thettop oi the box adjacent to its side edges and connected to the hopper, the upstanding sides and hopper forming with the top of theI box a fruit slicing chamber having its v'iorward sideppen, the ups-tanding sides having alignedvertical slots and short horizontal slots leading into the tops of the vertical slots, and a vertically moveable slicer blade disposed between thexupstanding sides and including a cross-bar to engage in the vertical:.-slots and short horizontal slotsthe,blade enteringthe. transverse slot when inthe lowered position for severingthe fruit.

ADO-LPH O. GOLDSTEIEN.

'REFERENCES 'CITED -The `following. references are of.. record Yin .the file of this patent:

UNITED" STATES PATENTS sliunber Name Q'Date 364,641 Gathman .`June 14, 1887 .1,921,633 Nelson Aug.` 8, v1933 1,943,113 Daum fJan. 9, 1934 2,313,318 l Brown et al. Mar. 9, 1943 .2,373,584 Malicay Apr. 10, 1945 

